There are so many fun dog parks in Houston, from letting your dog splash around the ponds at Johnny Steele Park to watching your dog play with other dogs on the artificial turf at Levy Dog Park. But as fun as dog parks are, it’s important to recognize the signs you should leave the dog park.
In this Beyond the Dog blog, we will provide some dog training tips so that you and your dog can have a great time at Houston’s dog parks. Let’s start by discussing dogs who can be poor candidates for the dog park.
Some dogs are poor candidates for going to dog parks
Unfortunately, not all dogs do well at dog parks. Some dogs can bully other dogs, fight, not share, and act like they don’t have any manners. But why do these things happen? One common denominator is a lack of social skills.
This includes when well intentioned pet parents bring their dogs to the dog park in an attempt to socialize. Many dogs don’t thrive in a dog park setting, and these well intentioned dog park adventures can be more harmful than good. So, which dogs are poor candidates for the dog park?
- We wouldn’t take a young puppy to the dog park, as there are too many safety hazards, and poor experiences during a puppy’s socialization window with other dogs can lead to behavioral issues later on. For help on puppy socialization, we recommend checking out our blog on “How to Properly Socialize Your Puppy”.
- We wouldn’t take an unneutered dog over eight months of age or an adult male dog who has recently been neutered into a dog park. It’s more likely that other dogs will bully them, and it’s probably not going to be a fun experience.
Now that we have discussed which dogs can be poor candidates, let’s look recognizing when your dog isn’t interested in playing with other dogs.
Recognize when your dog doesn’t want to socialize with other dogs
You should leave the dog park if your dog doesn’t want to interact with other dogs. But how can you tell when your dog isn’t interested in being social?
- Does your dog sit by you the whole time and not interact with other dogs? It’s clear who they want to spend their time with. Dogs who sit by their pet parents the entire time can start guarding them. This can be a recipe for disaster and lead to altercations.
- The same situation can happen for dogs who only want to play fetch with their owners. Those dogs don’t want to play with the other dogs. Other dogs may chase or jump on them while they play fetch, even when your dog doesn’t want to interact. Sometimes, these dogs can guard their ball, which could lead to a dog fight.
Now let’s move on to discussing a dog’s body language and how to know if you should leave the dog park. We recommend checking our blog on “Identifying Body Language on Dogs” written by our co-founder and Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, Dr. Kristyn Echterling-Savage. This blog will help you to better identify friendly, neutral and aggressive behavior in dogs.
Looking at a dog’s body language and knowing when you should leave the dog park
If your dog has good social skills and you want to go to the dog park, you should observe other dogs before entering the park. This will help you notice if dogs are acting like bullies and dogs showing signs of aggression. You should wait for those dogs to leave before going in, or leave if you are already in the park. Watch a dog’s body language when they meet or play with other dogs to decide whether the dog park is a good fit for them. These signs include:
- If a dog enters the park and runs away from other dogs with their tail tucked and often vocalizing. Then the dog park is not a good place for them. Traumatizing experiences can lead to poorer social skills.
- A dog that play too hard and are overly physical are not suitable for dog parks. These dogs can chase and bite other dogs, never reciprocating vulnerable body positions. When they are wrestling, it’s likely they are always on top of the other dog and not allowing them up. They are also likely to repeatedly bite at the shoulders of the other dogs and be an overall playground bully. These dogs can unfortunately harm other dogs social skills.
- Aggressive dogs may be let in by their owners because they are trying to socialize them at the dog park. This is clearly a bad idea for everyone involved, and it can quickly become an unsafe situation.
We are here to help
Do you have any questions on dog obedience training or addressing behavioral concerns, such as reactivity, fearful behavior, separation anxiety, resource guarding, or touch sensitivity? Beyond the Dog Houston offers personalized private training sessions both at your home and throughout the Houston area, board and train programs, and virtual training programs. You can schedule a free consultation with our Pet Behavior Team to discuss your training goals and receive a personalized recommendation.
We use scientifically proven training methods, backed by extensive experience. Beyond the Dog Houston is led by our co-founders, Dr. Echterling-Savage, a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB) and Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), and Sean Savage, a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC) and Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA).
